Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Browns Free Agents: 6 Free Agents The Cleveland Browns Should Target

By Nick Dudukovich

Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) celebrates an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) celebrates an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
NFL: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFL: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers /

Joe Hawley, C, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Targeting Joe Hawley should be a no brainer. The Browns need a center. It would be insane to waste a high pick on this position since former GM Ray Farmer just burned one on Cameron Erving in 2015.

Constructing your offensive line through free agency normally isn’t the route to take, but a center should be able to be inserted without taking much of a step back, especially when considering how dire the Browns situation is. Just look at what Alex Mack did for the Falcons.

Hawley’s played in 29 games over the last two years, and his team, the Buccaneers, will try to keep him. Tampa has $84.2 million in cap space, so they can certainly make Hawley an offer he can’t refuse.

However, it was interesting to see the Bucs sign James Stone to a futures contract last January. Stone, 24, played extensively for the Falcons as an undrafted rookie in 2014. He tore his ACL in 2015 and was released.

He’s supposed to compete for a backup guard/center spot–far from a cemented spot as a starter. Something to watch though.

The Bucs originally acquired Hawley when he left Atlanta after the 2014 season. He signed two-year pact for $3.3 million to join the Bucs. He’ll certainly command more this time around.

Home/Cleveland Browns